WinterFest adjusts to the un-wintry weather
According to local forecasts, the OnPoint Community Credit Union 2015 Oregon WinterFest presented by U.S. Cellular is on track to be one of the warmest on record, and event producers are adapting the schedule to make it more suitable to the weather.
Due to the lack of snow available, the event’s ski and snowboard competition, The Playground Games, has been canceled. In years past, it has taken 55 truckloads of snow from Mt. Bachelor to build the competition base, about 495 yards of snow.
With area snowpack at a fraction of normal and a moderate amount of new snow in the forecast for the mountains, event producers say it is not possible to responsibly carry out the competition.
“While we’re disappointed not to be able to produce snow for the competition, the warm weather is actually great for festival-goers,” said Aaron Switzer, owner of Lay It Out Events. “We’re hoping to see more visitors from out of town because mountain passes should be clear, and for events like our Wine Walk and Filter concert, we expect greater turnout and enthusiasm.
“For those who love the cold, we will still have more ice sculptures and fire pits than ever before, and of course plenty of winter-friendly libations.”
Replacing the ski and snowboard competition, Lay It Out Events has added two evening performances of Metal Mulisha. Lay It Out Events has also added to the music lineup for the weekend, bringing on Woebegone to open for March Fourth Marching Band on Friday night and The Autonomics to open for Filter on Saturday night.
In addition to their two scheduled Saturday daytime shows, Metal Mulisha will now also perform on Friday night and Saturday night with two additional riders. The X-Games medalists, high-flying acrobatic motocross is the biggest and most-revered team in FMX, MMA, BMX, Offroad Racing, and Free Style Motocross. Team riders will perform under lights and bring a new level of excitement to the night sky, a first for Oregon WinterFest.
Oregon WinterFest Schedule Changes/Additions:
The Playground Games Ski and Snowboard Competition has been cancelled.
Friday night: 5:30pm (NEW)
Saturday: 12pm, 3pm, and 5:30pm (NEW)
Woebegone opens (NEW) for MarchFourth Marching Band Friday, Feb. 13 @ 7pm
Woebegone is a new project of Larry & His Flask, led by vocalist and guitarist Ian Cook, and Kirk Skatvold, Dayne Wood and Andrew Carew. This is only the second time the group has played in Central Oregon after creating Woebegone during Larry & His Flask’s hiatus.
The Autonomics open (NEW) for Filter Saturday, Feb. 14 @ 7pm
The Autonomics were born and bred in Bend, Oregon and are now based in Portland. The group, described as “Forrest-pop-revivalist-garage-post-punk-lo-fi-surf-ambiance or whatever” on their Twitter profile, will soon release their 2015 European tour schedule.
Oregon WinterFest Pass pricing and where to purchase for 2015:
$6 commemorative Oregon WinterFest buttons are available online now at www.BendTicket.com (additional service fees apply). They are also available at OnPoint Community Credit Union locations. $8 buttons will are available at Newport Avenue Market at the Old Mill District Ticket Mill
Day-Of Pricing (available at the event gates February 13-15):
$30 Family Pack Passes (4 passes) $6 Children’s Pass (3 yrs-12 yrs) $10 Adult Pass (13-61) $8 Senior Pass (61+) Children 2 yrs and under FREE Mt. Bachelor Alpine Season Ticket Holders get free admission with additional proof of ID.
Plan your Oregon WinterFest weekend now and join us for Bend’s largest celebration of the year. For more up-to-date information on tickets, schedules, programming, races and vendors, please visit www.oregonwinterfest.com.
Oregon WinterFest takes place in the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon. The event will benefit Saving Grace, Imagine a Life Without Violence
